Shoe with interchangeable panel inserts



Jan. 29, 1952 M. A. FISCHER 2,583,826

SHOE WITH INTERCHANGEABLE PANEL INSERTS Filed July 25, 1949 Fig. 3

IN V EN TOR.

Marq Ann Fischzr Patented Jan. 29, 1952 UNITED STATESa PATENT OFFICESHOE WITH INTERCHANGEABLE PANEL msnn'rs Mary Ann Fischeri Miami Beach,Fla.

Application July 25, 1949, Serial No. 106,553

6 Claims. (Cl. 36-115) This invention relates to panel inserts forfootwear uppers and, more especially, to interchangeable panels ofvarious colors and textures insertable in the apertured portions of theupper shoe structure of conventional footwear for reten- 2 be readilyand conveniently applied thereto and detached therefrom.

Another object is to provide interchangeable inserts of the characterand for the purposes herein described which may be readily andeconomically manufactured.

Other advantages of the invention will be discernible from the detaileddescription thereof hereinafter set forth.

According to the invention, the article of footwear has an upperstructure comprising a plurality of spaced apart straps definingapertured i3 portions therebetween.

Arranged within these apertures is a corresponding plurality of panelinserts of color and/ or fabric difiering from the surrounding upperstructure whereby to provide a contrasting color pattern designed toimpart a pleasing and unique appearance to the footwear harmonizing withthe costume worn by the user. These inserts conform in marginal outlineto the aperture by which they are received, being detachably securedtherein to prevent their inadvertent displacement, and thus the insertsare interchangeable to produce varying color combinations in the upperstructure of the footwear.

The invention is exemplified by footwear shown in the accompanyingdrawing in which the views are as follows:

14 from which is directeda plurality of lateral straps 5. The strapsdefine therebetween a plurality: of apertures 6A, in which are receiveda corresponding plurality of panels or inserts. 6, shown in relativelyheavy dotted lines outlining the peripheral edges of the inserts.

The shoe illustrated in Fig. 2, likewise embodies the sole I, heel 2,ankle fastening ;3, and the upper structure comprising a longitudinalstrap i and lateral straps extending therefrom, 5.

These straps define apertures B in which are receivedthe inserts 6, aswill be understood.

A form of insert retaining means is shown by the enlarged detail, Fig.5, wherein the central strap 4 has fastened thereunder a flap-:providingmeans in the form of channels 1 arranged back to back. These channels!provide mount- .ing flaps la and panel-retaining flaps, lb and aredesigned to receive therein the peripheral edge of the insert 6, forminga stop member therefor. The flap-providing channels 1 may be fabricatedfrom any suitable material having semi-rigid characteristics to retainthe inserts therein against inadvertent displacement and are sewed orotherwise fastened to any portion of the shoe upper structure receivinga marginal edge of an insert. Although the flap-providing means Iillustrated in Fig. 5 is channel-form, such particular form offlap-providing means is non-essential.

A modification of the insert retention means is shown in Fig. 3, whichembodies a border or peripheral tape 8, carried along the under side ofthe peripheral edges of the insert. The upper face of this tape istreated with an adhesive of suitable sticking characteristics permittingthe re-use thereof to fasten the insert against the under side of theapertures marginal edges by pressing the insert thereagainst.

Footwear of the type shown in Fig. 1 may have a bottom sole strip 9formed therealong to receive the bottom edge of the insert 6.

In practice, footwear to which the invention is applied is marketablewith an accompanying assortment of panel inserts in sets of differentcolors and/or surface textures, as well as marginal conformations to fitthe several apertures formed in the shoe upper structure. The insertsmay befabricated from plastic material, leather, textile, or anysuitable substances of natural or synthetic origin affordingcharacteristics which are appropriate to the purposes herein described.Thus, the wearer may select a color pattern harmonizing with the apparelwith which the footwear is to be worn and the invention is thus seen toprovideaunique and pleasing article of V 7 plastic material or ofnatural or synthetic flexistifi material, will preserve the shape of theupper when the strap portions 4', 5 are made of very light material.

It will be understood that a single panel insert may be extended acrosstwo or more apertures, the insert retention means being in such casesomitted from the construction. Likewise, an aperture may, in someconstructions, be formed intermediate two adjacent straps or a strapalong one marginof the aperture and the main portion of the upperstructure along another margin thereof, or the aperture may be formed inthe upper structure proper without a strap bounding any margin thereof.In the latter construction, the insert retention means will, of course,be fastened under the marginal edges of the aperture against the uppershoe structure, as for example, the toe portion thereof.

Of course, the invention is susceptible of a varietyof changes andmodifications in design and arrangement without departing from' theabove the plane of the top edges of the latter,

longitudinally spaced laterally arranged strap portions connecting eachside edge of said top strip portion with longitudinally spaced portionsof the adjacent side strip whereby to provide the upper with aninterspace formation atop- -posite sides of said top strip and betweenthe same and said side strips; the combination of separate flexi-stiifflap-providing means secured to the innersurface of each, of said sideand said top strips and concealed by the latter, the flaps of saidflap-providing means having free'edges extending toward the adjacentpart of said interspace formation, separate removable and decorativeclosure panels of fleXi-stiff material occupying the interspaceformation, and said panels being of a width greater than the distancebetween opposite free edges of said flaps, whereby the side edges ofsaid panels partially underlie said stripsand also at least partiallyoverlie the flaps of the adjacent flap-providing means whereby saidpanels are removably. reftained in place.

2 In a finished ready-to-wear shoe having an upper comprising upwardlyprojecting longitudinallyextending strips at each side of and at-'ta'ched to the shoe sole, a longitudinally extending top strip portionlocated in laterally spaced relation between said sidestrips. anddisposed abovethe plane of the top edges of the latter,

4 strip portion with longitudinally spaced portions of the adjacent sidestrip whereby to provide the upper with an interspace formation atopposite sides of said top strip and between the same and said sidestrips; the combination of separate flap-providing means secured to theinner surface of each of said side strips and said top strips andconcealed by the latter, the flaps of said nap-providing means havingfree edges extending toward the adjacent part of said interspaceformation, separate removable and decorative closure panels offlexi-stiff material occupying the interspace formation, said panelsbeing exposed to the wearers foot at the site of said interspaceformations, said panels also being of a width greater than the distancebetween opposite free edges of saidflaps, whereby the side edges of saidpanels partially underlie said strips and also atleast partially overliethe flaps of the adjacent flap-providing means whereby said panels areremovably retained in place, and stop means associated with said flapsfor engaging the proximate edge of the related panel to sustain the samewhereby to assist in preserving the shape of said upper, and saidflapoverlapped edges of the panels being freev to move slightly awayfrom said stop means under pressure from the wearers foot to match anysimilarly produced yield in the lateral strap-like portions of saidupper thus tending to promote wearer comfort.

3. In a finished ready-to-wear shoe having an upper comprising upwardlyprojecting longitudinally extending strips at each side of and attachedto the shoe sole, a longitudinally extend- 7 ing top strip portionlocated in laterally spaced relation between said side strips anddisposed above the plane of the top edges of the latter, longitudinallyspaced laterally arranged strap portions connecting each side edge ofsaid top strip portion with longitudinally spaced portions of theadjacent side strip whereby to provide the upper with an interspaceformation atopposite sides of said top strip and between the same andsaid, side strips; the combination of separate flap-providing meanssecured to the in ner surface of each of said side strips and said topstrip and concealed bythe latter, the flaps of said flap-providing meanshaving free edges extending toward the adjacent part of said in terspaceformation, separate removable and decorative closure panels offlexi-stiif material occupying the interspace formation, said panelsbeing exposed to the wearers foot at the site 'of said interspaceformations, said panels also being of a width greater than the distancebetween opposite free edges of said flaps, whereby the side edges ofsaid panels partially underlie said strips and also at least partiallyoverlie the flaps of the adjacent flap-providing means whereby saidpanels are removably retained in place, and the opposite flap-overlappededges of said panels being free to move slightly in the direction of therelated interspace formation under pressure from the wearers foot tomatch any similarly produced yield in the lateral strap-like portions ofthe upper thus tending to promote wearer comfort.

'4. The combinations set forth in claim 1, and panel-underlying andengaging flaps secured to the under surface of at least certain of saidlongitudinally spaced laterally arranged strap portions of the upper andconcealed thereby.

5. The combination set forth in claim 2, and panel-underlying andengaging flaps secured to 5 e the under surface of at least certain ofsaid UNITED STATES PA'IENTS longitudinally spaced laterally arrangedstrap Number Name Date portions of the upper and concealed thereby. D 96620 Moran Aug. 20 1935 6. The combination set forth in claim 3, and 5Bostock May 1926 panel-underlying and engaging flaps secured to 51'795769 Frohmm; E 1931 the under surface of at least certain of said2139377 Mun Dec 1938 longitudinally spaced laterally arranged strap2226110 Bass 1940 portions of the upper and concealed thereby.

MARY ANN FISCHER, FOREIGN PATENTS 10 Number Country Date REFERENCESCITED 459,897 Great Britain Jan. 18,1937

The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

